Page 2 ~ THE VILLAGER/July 14, 2017 THE COMMUNIQUÉ www.theaustinvillager.com What Happens When Twirling HBO “EXTREMELY Gentleman Catches Ross’s Eye? SADDENED” BY ELLIS’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 The DIVA held a matching Amidst the action- red crimson fan, very ap- DEATH packed evening, Ross be- propriate for our warm gan singing “Upside summer nights. The last Down You Turn Me”. She outfit showcased another swayed from side-to-side silver-sequined gown with while singing upside a silver-sequined laced down you’re turning me, shawl. you’re giving love instinc- The wardrobe tively, around and round matched the leading lady you’re turning me! During that she is. Full of class the performance a and style, adorned by long gentleman in the audi- flowing curly hair and ence caught her atten- fashionable makeup ac- tion as he danced and centuating her timeless twirled. beauty! To the gentleman’s Other musical perfor- surprise, Ross invited him mances included “Endless to the stage along with Love”, “Why Do Fools Fall two other members of the In Love”, “Touch Me In The audience. They danced Morning” and “Stop In The while she rocked the Diana Ross performs Name of Love”, to name a house with her vocals. on stage at Austin's few. What a magical moment ACL Live at The Moody Concert-goers en- In this June 21, 2011 file photo, Nelsan Ellis arrives at the premiere for for three young men to Theater (2013). joyed a fun, relaxing and the fourth season of HBO’s “” in Los Angeles. Ellis, best known Photo by showcase their dancing music-filled evening, in- for playing the character of Lafayette Reynolds on “True Blood,” has died Naomi Richard. skills in front of this living cluding a walk down at the age of 39. Ellis’ manager Emily Gerson Saines confirmed the actor’s legend. It’s a story I’m Ross would make two out- memory lane of music death in an email Saturday, July 8, 2017. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles, File) sure they will tell for years fit changes. The second they loved so much. to come. gown was a vibrant red Without a doubt, our CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 On Twitter, some ativity never ceased to To continue her ac- with an indented waist world would be empty The -born ac- fans posted one of his amaze me. Working with tion-packed performance, and a flowing red train. without you, Ms. Ross! tor, who studied at more famous scenes as him was a privilege.” Juilliard, played the role of Lafayette, where the char- In a 2012 TV interview Lafayette, a gay short or- acter marches out of the in , Ellis recalled Jenkins to Adapt James Baldwin der cook, on the HBO kitchen to confront some that it took four auditions drama from 2008 to 2014, bigoted diners. for him to nail the role of for ‘Moonlight’ Follow-Up and more recently ap- HBO released a Lafayette. At first, he said, peared in the CBS detec- statement saying the net- he was playing the role as by: The Associated Press tive series “Elementary.” work was “extremely sad- a caricature, and was told He also was a playwright dened” by Ellis’ death. to “go back to the drawing NEW YORK (AP) and a stage director. “Nelsan was a long- board and figure it out.” — Writer-director Barry Ellis appeared as time member of the HBO He then began to Jenkins’ feature-film fol- Martin Luther King, Jr. in family whose ground- channel his mother. “Once low-up to his Oscar-win- ’ “,” breaking portrayal of I started to act like my ning “Moonlight” will be and as singer Bobby Byrd Lafayette will be remem- Mama, my fourth audition, an adaptation of James in the biopic bered fondly within the I got the part,” he said. Baldwin’s “If Beale Street “Get On Up.” overall legacy of ‘True Born in Harvey, Illi- Could Talk.” He also appeared in Blood,’” the statement nois, Ellis attended Annapurna Pictures “The Help,” and his read. “Nelsan will be , announced Monday that castmate Octavia Spencer dearly missed by his fans where he credited teach- Jenkins will start shoot- mourned his death on and all of us at HBO.” ers with instilling the craft ing the film in October. Instagram. “My heart “True Blood” creator of theater in him. He later Jenkins said adapt- breaks for his kids and called Ellis “a attended Juilliard in New ing Baldwin’s 1974 novel family,” the actress wrote. singular talent whose cre- York City. about love and injustice in 1970s Harlem is “a Applications The City of Austin has begun accepting applica- dream I’ve long held tions for the ninth-annual CityWorks Academy. The dear.” He penned the Now academy is an opportunity for the Austin community screenplay in the same to get involved in local government and to learn first- 2013 summer during Available hand about the programs and services the City pro- which he wrote “Moon- vides from the people who operate them. FILE – This Jan. 8, 2017 file photo shows Barry for Annual light” from Tarell Alvin The application deadline is July 21. Jenkins, director of “Moonlight,” in press room at the McCraney’s play. Cityworks Participants will have the chance to learn the 74th annual Golden Globe Awards in Beverly Hills, The Baldwin estate “A to Z” of City operations through 14 class sessions Calif. Jenkins’ feature-film follow-up to his Oscar-win- has given its blessing to Academy that conclude with a graduation ceremony. These ses- ning “Moonlight” will be an adaptation of James the film, which follows sions are designed to give participants a hands-on, Baldwin’s “If Beale Street Could Talk.” Annapurna Raoul Peck’s Oscar- behind-the-scenes look at their City government. Pictures announced Monday, July 10, that Jenkins will nominated Baldwin Classes start the first week of September and end the start shooting the film in October. (Photo by Jordan documentary “I Am Not second week of December. Each session will be held Strauss/Invision/AP, File) Your Negro.” “If Beale at a different City facility on either Tuesday or Wednes- Street Could Talk” will re- Adele Romanski and Amazon based on day from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. turn much of the produc- Plan B. Colson Whitehead’s CityWorks Academy applications are available online at http://austintexas.gov/atx-cw-app or at tion team behind “Moon- Jenkins is also de- “The Underground Rail- Austin City Hall, 301 W. Second St. light,” including producer veloping a series for road.”